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Letter from John E. Page, 16 April 1844

Source Note

John E. Page

25 Feb. 1799–14 Oct. 1867. Born at Trenton, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Ebenezer Page and Rachel Hill. Married first Betsey Thompson, 1831, in Huron Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Emer Harris, 18 Aug. 1833, at Brownhelm...

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, Letter,
Pittsburgh

Also spelled Pittsbourg, Pittsbourgh, and Pittsburg. Major industrial port city in southwestern Pennsylvania. Near location where Monongahela and Allegheny rivers converge to form Ohio River. French established Fort Du Quesne, 1754. British captured fort,...

More Info
, Allegheny Co., PA, to JS and
Brigham Young

1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...

View Full Bio
, [
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL], 16 Apr. 1844; handwriting of
John E. Page

25 Feb. 1799–14 Oct. 1867. Born at Trenton, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Ebenezer Page and Rachel Hill. Married first Betsey Thompson, 1831, in Huron Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Emer Harris, 18 Aug. 1833, at Brownhelm...

View Full Bio
; four pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes docket and notations.
Bifolium measuring 10 × 7⅞ inches (25 × 20 cm). The pages are ruled with twenty-seven horizontal lines. The document was trifolded twice in letter style and later refolded for filing.
The letter was docketed by
Thomas Bullock

23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...

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, who served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844 and as clerk to the church historian and recorder from 1845 to 1865.
1

Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

Graphite notations were added by Andrew Jenson, who began working in the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) in 1882 and served as assistant church historian from 1897 to 1941.
2

Jenson, Autobiography, 131, 133, 135, 141, 192, 389; Jenson, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891 and 19 Oct. 1897; Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 44–52.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Jenson, Andrew. Autobiography of Andrew Jenson: Assistant Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1938.

Jenson, Andrew. Journals, 1864–1941. Andrew Jenson, Autobiography and Journals, 1864–1941. CHL.

Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.

By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL).
3

See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.


The document’s early docket, its notations, and its later inclusion in the JS Collection indicate continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.

    Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  2. [2]

    Jenson, Autobiography, 131, 133, 135, 141, 192, 389; Jenson, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891 and 19 Oct. 1897; Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 44–52.

    Jenson, Andrew. Autobiography of Andrew Jenson: Assistant Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1938.

    Jenson, Andrew. Journals, 1864–1941. Andrew Jenson, Autobiography and Journals, 1864–1941. CHL.

    Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.

  3. [3]

    See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

On 16 April 1844, apostle
John E. Page

25 Feb. 1799–14 Oct. 1867. Born at Trenton, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Ebenezer Page and Rachel Hill. Married first Betsey Thompson, 1831, in Huron Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Emer Harris, 18 Aug. 1833, at Brownhelm...

View Full Bio
wrote a letter from
Pittsburgh

Also spelled Pittsbourg, Pittsbourgh, and Pittsburg. Major industrial port city in southwestern Pennsylvania. Near location where Monongahela and Allegheny rivers converge to form Ohio River. French established Fort Du Quesne, 1754. British captured fort,...

More Info
, where he was presiding over the
church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

View Glossary
in that area, to JS,
president

The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...

View Glossary
of the church, and
Brigham Young

1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...

View Full Bio
, president of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...

View Glossary
, in
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
, Illinois. In the letter, Page recounted his latest missionary efforts and the ways he had used scholarly literature on Central America to substantiate the authenticity of the Book of Mormon. Page was not the first nor only Latter-day Saint to gravitate toward this literature; prior to 1844, JS and others had expressed interest in scholarly work related to the exploration of Central America.
1

In 1841 John M. Bernhisel gave JS a copy of John Lloyd Stephens’s book Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan. In a letter thanking Bernhisel for the gift, JS stated that Stephens’s work was “the most correct luminous & comprihensive” of any book written on American antiquities. That same year, a missionary named Charles Thompson published a volume that used Stephens’s research as evidence that the Book of Mormon was a “divinely inspired record, written by the Forefathers of the Natives whom we call Indians.” In 1842, under JS’s editorship, the Times and Seasons published articles citing Stephens’s works to support the idea that individuals and populations described in the Book of Mormon had inhabited the Americas; an additional article was published in the Times and Seasons in 1843. (Letter from John M. Bernhisel, 8 Sept. 1841; Letter to John M. Bernhisel, 16 Nov. 1841; Thompson, Evidences in Proof of the Book of Mormon, 2, 241–256; “Extract From Stephens’ ‘Incidents of Travel in Central America,’” Times and Seasons, 15 Sept. 1842, 3:911–914; “Extract From Stephens’ ‘Incidents of Travel in Central America,’” Times and Seasons, 1 Oct. 1842, 3:927–928; “Stephens’ Works on Central America,” Times and Seasons, 1 Oct. 1843, 4:346–347.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Thompson, Charles. Evidences in Proof of the Book of Mormon, Being a Divinely Inspired Record, Written by the Forefathers of the Natives Whom We Call Indians, (Who Are a Remnant of the Tribe of Joseph,) and Hid Up in the Earth, but Come Forth in Fulfilment of Prophesy for the Gathering of Israel and the Re-establishing of the Kingdom of God upon the Earth. Batavia, NY: D. D. Waite, 1841.

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

As a missionary and church leader in Pittsburgh, Page had previously defended Latter-day Saint doctrine and scripture in print and had already argued that Mesoamerican ruins validated the claims of the Book of Mormon.
2

In 1842 Page attempted to align cities named in the Book of Mormon with the geography described by John Lloyd Stephens in Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan. In 1843 Page published a pamphlet refuting the theory that Sidney Ridgon had plagiarized a manuscript written by Solomon Spalding to produce the Book of Mormon. During 1843 and 1844, Page published The Gospel Light, a series of three tracts “devoted to the promulgation and defence of the doctrine of the scriptures as advocated by ‘The church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.’” (John E. Page, “To a Disciple,” Morning Chronicle [Pittsburgh], 1 July 1842, [2]; Page, Spaulding Story, 15–16; “The Gospel Light,” Gospel Light, June 1843, 1.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Morning Chronicle. Pittsburgh. 1841–1844.

Page, John E. The Spaulding Story, concerning the Origin of the Book of Mormon, Duly Examined, and Exposed to the Righteous Contempt of a Candid Public. Pittsburgh: By the author, 1843.

Gospel Light. Pittsburgh. 1843–1844.

Page hoped to convert audiences by showing that explorers of the Americas had found evidence of peoples and cultures described in the Book of Mormon.
In his letter of 16 April 1844,
Page

25 Feb. 1799–14 Oct. 1867. Born at Trenton, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Ebenezer Page and Rachel Hill. Married first Betsey Thompson, 1831, in Huron Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Emer Harris, 18 Aug. 1833, at Brownhelm...

View Full Bio
informed JS and
Young

1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...

View Full Bio
that the public had been “perfectly astounded” by his command of parallels between places described in the Book of Mormon and archaeological discoveries in Mesoamerica. In a postscript, Page asked permission to give traveling lectures on the subject and stated that while doing so he could help raise money for the
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

More Info
and drive subscriptions to Nauvoo newspapers.
Page

25 Feb. 1799–14 Oct. 1867. Born at Trenton, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Ebenezer Page and Rachel Hill. Married first Betsey Thompson, 1831, in Huron Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Emer Harris, 18 Aug. 1833, at Brownhelm...

View Full Bio
had the letter hand delivered by church member
Lucian R. Foster

12 Nov. 1806–19 Mar. 1876. Photographer, accountant, bookkeeper, clerk. Born in New Marlboro, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Nathaniel Foster and Polly. Married first Harriet Eliza Burr. Married second Mary Ann Graham. Baptized into Church of Jesus ...

View Full Bio
.
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

View Full Bio
, who was keeping JS’s journal, noted Foster’s arrival in
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
on 27 April 1844, which suggests that Foster delivered the letter to JS that day.
3

JS, Journal, 27 Apr. 1844. JS’s journal entry for this day and its sequence of reported events suggest that Richards was with JS in JS’s store, that Foster visited there, and that he arrived around midday.


Page requested that JS respond to his inquiry, but there is no known response.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    In 1841 John M. Bernhisel gave JS a copy of John Lloyd Stephens’s book Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan. In a letter thanking Bernhisel for the gift, JS stated that Stephens’s work was “the most correct luminous & comprihensive” of any book written on American antiquities. That same year, a missionary named Charles Thompson published a volume that used Stephens’s research as evidence that the Book of Mormon was a “divinely inspired record, written by the Forefathers of the Natives whom we call Indians.” In 1842, under JS’s editorship, the Times and Seasons published articles citing Stephens’s works to support the idea that individuals and populations described in the Book of Mormon had inhabited the Americas; an additional article was published in the Times and Seasons in 1843. (Letter from John M. Bernhisel, 8 Sept. 1841; Letter to John M. Bernhisel, 16 Nov. 1841; Thompson, Evidences in Proof of the Book of Mormon, 2, 241–256; “Extract From Stephens’ ‘Incidents of Travel in Central America,’” Times and Seasons, 15 Sept. 1842, 3:911–914; “Extract From Stephens’ ‘Incidents of Travel in Central America,’” Times and Seasons, 1 Oct. 1842, 3:927–928; “Stephens’ Works on Central America,” Times and Seasons, 1 Oct. 1843, 4:346–347.)

    Thompson, Charles. Evidences in Proof of the Book of Mormon, Being a Divinely Inspired Record, Written by the Forefathers of the Natives Whom We Call Indians, (Who Are a Remnant of the Tribe of Joseph,) and Hid Up in the Earth, but Come Forth in Fulfilment of Prophesy for the Gathering of Israel and the Re-establishing of the Kingdom of God upon the Earth. Batavia, NY: D. D. Waite, 1841.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  2. [2]

    In 1842 Page attempted to align cities named in the Book of Mormon with the geography described by John Lloyd Stephens in Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan. In 1843 Page published a pamphlet refuting the theory that Sidney Ridgon had plagiarized a manuscript written by Solomon Spalding to produce the Book of Mormon. During 1843 and 1844, Page published The Gospel Light, a series of three tracts “devoted to the promulgation and defence of the doctrine of the scriptures as advocated by ‘The church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.’” (John E. Page, “To a Disciple,” Morning Chronicle [Pittsburgh], 1 July 1842, [2]; Page, Spaulding Story, 15–16; “The Gospel Light,” Gospel Light, June 1843, 1.)

    Morning Chronicle. Pittsburgh. 1841–1844.

    Page, John E. The Spaulding Story, concerning the Origin of the Book of Mormon, Duly Examined, and Exposed to the Righteous Contempt of a Candid Public. Pittsburgh: By the author, 1843.

    Gospel Light. Pittsburgh. 1843–1844.

  3. [3]

    JS, Journal, 27 Apr. 1844. JS’s journal entry for this day and its sequence of reported events suggest that Richards was with JS in JS’s store, that Foster visited there, and that he arrived around midday.

Page [1]

Pittsburgh

Also spelled Pittsbourg, Pittsbourgh, and Pittsburg. Major industrial port city in southwestern Pennsylvania. Near location where Monongahela and Allegheny rivers converge to form Ohio River. French established Fort Du Quesne, 1754. British captured fort,...

More Info
April the 16— 1844
Presidents—
B[righam] Young

1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...

View Full Bio
& J Smith
J— Smith &
B— young

1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...

View Full Bio
Dear Bron.
I am hapy to embrace an oppertunity to say to you that I have had the pleasure of seeing
Elder

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

View Glossary
Orson Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

View Full Bio
in this
city

Also spelled Pittsbourg, Pittsbourgh, and Pittsburg. Major industrial port city in southwestern Pennsylvania. Near location where Monongahela and Allegheny rivers converge to form Ohio River. French established Fort Du Quesne, 1754. British captured fort,...

More Info
, he left here this morning for
Philadelphia

Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...

More Info
; he was in good health, Spirits, he will probily procede to
Jersey

Located in northeast region of U.S. First European settlements made by Dutch, Swedes, and English, early 1600s. Admitted to U.S. as state, Dec. 1787. Population in 1830 about 321,000. Population in 1840 about 373,000. First Latter-day Saint missionaries preached...

More Info
, and thence to
Washington— D— C

Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...

More Info
1

Hyde passed through Pittsburgh on his way to Washington DC to deliver a memorial to Congress on behalf of the Council of Fifty. (See Letter from Orson Hyde, 25 Apr. 1844.)


—— on receiveing a letter from Elder
R[ichard] Savary

14 July 1813–7 July 1865. Mill manager. Born in Plymouth Co., Massachusetts. Son of Nathan Savery and Elizabeth Gammons. Family resided in Middleborough, Plymouth Co., 1820. Moved to Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, by 1830. Married Betsey H. Keen, ...

View Full Bio
2

Page taught Savary on his mission in Pittsburgh. Before he joined the church, Savary wrote a letter to JS expressing his appreciation for Page’s ability to expound scripture and petitioning church leaders to allow Page to return to Pittsburgh after reporting to Nauvoo. (Letter from Richard Savary, 2 Feb. 1842; Petition from Richard Savary and Others, ca. 2 Feb. 1842.)


that my wife
3

Page married Mary Judd in 1839.


was sick, and that it was indispensibly nescessary that I should come home <​I did so—​>
4

The Times and Seasons reported in its 1 March 1844 issue that Page had left for Washington DC. (“Varieties,” Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1844, 5:458.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

these particulars I have sent you in another letter by Elder
Wm Smith

13 Mar. 1811–13 Nov. 1893. Farmer, newspaper editor. Born at Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, 1811; to Norwich, Windsor Co., 1813; and to Palmyra, Ontario Co., New York, 1816...

View Full Bio
5

This letter is apparently not extant.


My wife is some better my youngest child
6

At the time, the youngest child of John and Mary Judd Page was a daughter named Celestia, who was about one and a half years old. (1850 U.S. Census, Spring Prairie, Walworth Co., WI, 195; “Died,” Zion’s Ensign, 31 July 1902, 8.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.

Zion’s Ensign. Independence, MO. 1891–.

is some unwell but not dangerous to day I am nearly sick myself— I have laboured rather harder this winter and spring than I ought to have done for my own health but it is my glory to expose the stupid ignorance of this generation we
baptised

An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...

View Glossary
five last Sunday others are even many are just on the point to confess Jesus Christ to be there Saveyour [Savior] and Joseph Smith a prophet my theme in preaching is to prove the divinity of the Books of Mormon and Covenants—
7

Page was referring to the Doctrine and Covenants.


I have in possession the histories of the anticquities <​of America​>
8

During this time, there was widespread interest in Mesoamerican culture. Travelers, artists, and scholars had been creating works related to Mesoamerica since the late eighteenth century. Building on earlier writings and research available in Italian, Spanish, and German, publications on ancient American civilizations began to appear in English in the early nineteenth century. For example, Alexander von Humboldt’s Researches, concerning the Institutions and Monuments of the Ancient Inhabitants of America (London: Longman et al., 1814) appeared in English in 1814. Edward Kingsborough’s Antiquities of Mexico, an ongoing project that continued from 1831 to 1848, published travelogues, historical accounts, and many facsimile images. William Bullock’s 1824 travelogue, Six Months Residence and Travels in Mexico (London: John Murray, 1824), also fostered interest in ancient America.


By [John L.] Stephens, [Josiah] Priest, and Delafield [John Delafield Jr.]— all of which Books are of later-date than the Book of Mormon and they being disinterested witnesses to the Book of Mormon
9

See John L. Stephens, Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan, 2 vols. (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1841); John L. Stephens, Incidents of Travel in Yucatan, 2 vols. (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1843); Josiah Priest, American Antiquities and Discoveries in the West . . . (Albany: Hoffman and White, 1835); and John Delafield Jr., An Inquiry into the Origin of the Antiquities of America (Cincinnati: N. G. Burgess, 1839).


Comprehensive Works Cited

Stephens, John L. Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan. 2 vols. 11th ed. New York City: Harper and Brothers, 1841.

Stephens, John L. Incidents of Travel in Yucatan. 2 vols. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1843.

Priest, Josiah. American Antiquities and Discoveries in the West. . . . 5th ed. Albany: Hoffman and White, 1838.

Delafield, John, Jr. An Inquiry into the Origin of the Antiquities of America. Cincinnati: N. G. Burgess, 1839.

[p. [1]]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from John E. Page, 16 April 1844
ID #
1334
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • John E. Page

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Hyde passed through Pittsburgh on his way to Washington DC to deliver a memorial to Congress on behalf of the Council of Fifty. (See Letter from Orson Hyde, 25 Apr. 1844.)

  2. [2]

    Page taught Savary on his mission in Pittsburgh. Before he joined the church, Savary wrote a letter to JS expressing his appreciation for Page’s ability to expound scripture and petitioning church leaders to allow Page to return to Pittsburgh after reporting to Nauvoo. (Letter from Richard Savary, 2 Feb. 1842; Petition from Richard Savary and Others, ca. 2 Feb. 1842.)

  3. [3]

    Page married Mary Judd in 1839.

  4. [4]

    The Times and Seasons reported in its 1 March 1844 issue that Page had left for Washington DC. (“Varieties,” Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1844, 5:458.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  5. [5]

    This letter is apparently not extant.

  6. [6]

    At the time, the youngest child of John and Mary Judd Page was a daughter named Celestia, who was about one and a half years old. (1850 U.S. Census, Spring Prairie, Walworth Co., WI, 195; “Died,” Zion’s Ensign, 31 July 1902, 8.)

    Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.

    Zion’s Ensign. Independence, MO. 1891–.

  7. [7]

    Page was referring to the Doctrine and Covenants.

  8. [8]

    During this time, there was widespread interest in Mesoamerican culture. Travelers, artists, and scholars had been creating works related to Mesoamerica since the late eighteenth century. Building on earlier writings and research available in Italian, Spanish, and German, publications on ancient American civilizations began to appear in English in the early nineteenth century. For example, Alexander von Humboldt’s Researches, concerning the Institutions and Monuments of the Ancient Inhabitants of America (London: Longman et al., 1814) appeared in English in 1814. Edward Kingsborough’s Antiquities of Mexico, an ongoing project that continued from 1831 to 1848, published travelogues, historical accounts, and many facsimile images. William Bullock’s 1824 travelogue, Six Months Residence and Travels in Mexico (London: John Murray, 1824), also fostered interest in ancient America.

  9. [9]

    See John L. Stephens, Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan, 2 vols. (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1841); John L. Stephens, Incidents of Travel in Yucatan, 2 vols. (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1843); Josiah Priest, American Antiquities and Discoveries in the West . . . (Albany: Hoffman and White, 1835); and John Delafield Jr., An Inquiry into the Origin of the Antiquities of America (Cincinnati: N. G. Burgess, 1839).

    Stephens, John L. Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan. 2 vols. 11th ed. New York City: Harper and Brothers, 1841.

    Stephens, John L. Incidents of Travel in Yucatan. 2 vols. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1843.

    Priest, Josiah. American Antiquities and Discoveries in the West. . . . 5th ed. Albany: Hoffman and White, 1838.

    Delafield, John, Jr. An Inquiry into the Origin of the Antiquities of America. Cincinnati: N. G. Burgess, 1839.

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